I have a 2004 GMC Sierra 6.6L LLY with a 133,000 miles. 6" RCD suspension lift, 35" MT Baja ATZ, 20" Rev Wheels, PPE Xcellerator Tuner.

I am wanting to buy a camper, looking at a 5th wheel that weighs about 7,800lbs.

Can my truck handle it? What are suggestions? I've never towed any kind of camper. What about settings for the PPE? Or should I leave it stock?

I trailer/camper towing dumb so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I would not see and issue towing with listed mods for that light of trailer. Start getting over 12,000lbs then I say swap to 4:10 gears to get drivetrain closer to stock. Tow on lowest setting on PPE I would say. If climbing mountains watch the EGT gauge and if you don't have one get one. If climbing above 1250EGT I manual drop a gear down to help. Stay under 1350F EGT. Other than that enjoy and have fun. Normally the Allison is smart enough to handle things but running a non stock tune thenn the Allison doesn't know.

Brian

I tow with my ppe on level 2, I'm 22,000 t/t going down the road. T/C is right about keeping egt's in the safe zone. Only thing I think you need to look at, with that much lift will the trailer be level when hooked up?????

I tow with my ppe on level 2, I'm 22,000 t/t going down the road. T/C is right about keeping egt's in the safe zone. Only thing I think you need to look at, with that much lift will the trailer be level when hooked up?????

I don't see how it would be level... How will that effect the towing?

The trailer has to sit level to handle well. ballance is very important, you must also have the correct pin weight? around 20% for 5er

I have a 2004 GMC Sierra 6.6L LLY with a 133,000 miles. 6" RCD suspension lift, 35" MT Baja ATZ, 20" Rev Wheels, PPE Xcellerator Tuner.

I am wanting to buy a camper, looking at a 5th wheel that weighs about 7,800lbs.

Can my truck handle it? What are suggestions? I've never towed any kind of camper. What about settings for the PPE? Or should I leave it stock?

I trailer/camper towing dumb so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Your truck will have no trouble hauling that, but I don't see you with any chance of towing level. The lighter the 5er, the lower it tends to sit to the ground. You would almost need to do an axle flip on the camper to even get just slightly nose high. Even my stock 2500HD has the camper nose high on the lowest hitch setting.

I agree with the above. Your truck will handle it, but it will put more strain on the trailer and rear trailer axle.

Your truck will have no trouble hauling that, but I don't see you with any chance of towing level. The lighter the 5er, the lower it tends to sit to the ground. You would almost need to do an axle flip on the camper to even get just slightly nose high. Even my stock 2500HD has the camper nose high on the lowest hitch setting.

At the lowest hitch setting how much room do you have between the bed rails and the 5th wheel? Seems like there is never enough room- especially with some of the crazy enterances sometimes at gas stations.

If the trailer isn't level, load the trailer, including the holding tanks and weigh the trailer. The rear axle will carry more weight. You may have to increase the load range of the tires, even if you don't exceed the axle rating.

Hi Huntfish53,

As others' have already said, the Trailer must be level for safety and equipment reliability concerns.

You don't say exactly how much over stock height you actually are, but I'd guess at least 7" to 8" - maybe more. That already gives you "Emergency Control" issues without anything in tow.

Your best bet, if you insist on towing with that truck, would be a good "pull behind" trailer with a proper sized hitch system. That would leave the Trailer down where it's susposed to be and level.

Unless you boost up a 5th Wheel unit to match your truck height, then forget it. If you do that kind of boost, then forget it anyway - as you'll really be unsafe at any speed with a 5th Wheel unit, and your truck, that high off the ground.

Harold

At the lowest hitch setting how much room do you have between the bed rails and the 5th wheel? Seems like there is never enough room- especially with some of the crazy enterances sometimes at gas stations.

Sorry, didn't see the question til now. I probably have 5 inches between the bed rails and the trailer, I'd actually have to go out and measure, might even be slightly less. I've not had any problems although I did have an interesting one happen a couple of days ago - my camper doesn't have a spare tire mount, so I strapped the spare in the bed standing up between the front of the cargo box and the wheel well. Wasn't until I was hooking up to come home that I noticed that the bottom of the fifth wheel and the tire could possibly compete for the same space in a tight turn. Sure enough, backing into the pad at home, I saw the bottom of the camper slide up onto the tire, so I guess it can happen.